Escondido to consider sewer connection

HARMONY GROVE -- Although it sits in the county, a proposed
730-home development is looking for a connection to the city of
Escondido.

The county's Department of Public Works sent a letter to the
city recently, asking to discuss connecting the 412 acres of
farmland in the Harmony Grove area to Escondido's sewer system.
Residents in the hilly area southwest of Escondido rely on septic
systems.

"Since sewer is not provided to the area, we have been
discussing the alternatives for service with the developer," wrote
Deputy Director Douglas Isbell, in a letter dated Feb. 10. "One
alternative is to connect to the existing Hale Avenue sewer
treatment plant within the city of Escondido. This appears to be a
viable option."

Isbell did not return a call for comment Wednesday. But Tom
Zanic, vice president of the San Monica-based developer New Urban
West, said the developer supports the county's request.

He said New Urban and the county are exploring the possibility
of paying to tap into the city's wastewater treatment plant, the
Hale Avenue Resource Recovery Facility, as one of two options.

The other possibility is for the county to build and run a small
sewer plant in the Harmony Grove area, Zanic said, adding that it
is too early to tell which would be more cost efficient.

"We would prefer to hook up with Escondido because it is
advantageous to the city," Zanic said. "Instead of paying dollars
to a sewer plant contractor to build a plant, I would rather see
those dollars go to the city."

Pat Thomas, the city's public works director, said he plans to
bring the county letter to the council's attention at its April 21
meeting.

Until then, he said his staff is trying to ascertain whether the
plant has the capacity to support so many homes.

"Capacity is potentially an issue," he said. "We have ample
capacity today, as we speak. But we are still looking at some
numbers for our build-out population and what the demand for sewer
service could be."

Thomas added that Escondido already contracts with the city of
San Diego to provide sewer service to Rancho Bernardo. The price of
providing the Harmony Grove development with sewer service would be
negotiated, he said.

Escondido doesn't have much incentive to be friendly. City
leaders have spent the last several years listening to Harmony
Grove residents make it clear they want no part of Escondido. They
prefer to stay within the county's rule.

Many are still worried that any connection to Escondido brings
with it the chance of losing their rural lifestyle. Years ago,
Escondido officials floated a proposal to turn the egg farms into
industrial development, but ultimately dropped the idea after
massive protest.

A year ago, Harmony Grove residents again showed up at City Hall
to lobby the Escondido council to completely sever their ties. They
asked to be taken out of the city's sphere of influence -- the area
it plans to eventually annex.

Zanic and New Urban West remained neutral on the sphere
decision, saying the housing project could be developed in either
the city or county.

Residents are still concerned that any contact with Escondido
might mean a change in their lifestyle.

"Some people are worried that if sewer comes in, it will
increase the chance of sprawl," said Mid Hoppenrath, chairwoman of
the Elfin Forest and Harmony Grove town council. "I think we are
banking on what the county said, that this project is set up to
prevent urban sprawl. But personally, the sewer connection doesn't
worry me either way."

But 18-year Harmony Grove resident Chris Meredith is plenty
worried. To him, a sewer connection opens the way for New Urban
West to squeeze too many houses into the rural area, he said. He
opposed development in either jurisdiction and said the only
solution is for New Urban West to cut the number of houses in
half.

"That many houses would totally change for the worse this whole
area," he said. "The traffic on our two-lane roads is already bad
in the afternoons. What are we leaving for our children? When the
oak trees are gone, they are gone."

Zanic said he has tried to work with people such as Meredith to
calm their fears about his development. He even held focus groups
last year and used their suggestions for such amenities as horse
trails and open space mixed in with the variety of housing sizes
and density.

"Our project reflects what we heard from the community for what
Harmony Grove should look like," he said.

After filing the plans in January, New Urban West expects the
county to take 18 months to study the environmental effects on the
development before officials hold public meetings.